January 21, 2013

An exhibition at the Bicentennial Art Center in Paris, Illinois, "Watercolor to War Birds = Works by Eugene V. Smith," features the paintings and sketches of a DePauw University alumnus. According to the Terre Haute Tribune-Star, "Smith majored in economics and minored in art and earned his bachelor’s degree from DePauw University [in 1951] and master’s degree at Trinity University.

"After graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force where he served for five years during the Korean War. While in the Air Force he had the opportunity to paint the walls of day rooms with his perceptions of the iron eagles known as the warbirds. He had a passion for airplanes and wanted to become a pilot. However, his vision prevented him from fulfilling that dream. After his military service, he returned to school and earned a doctorate in sociology at Purdue University. He taught at various universities and in 1967 came to Indiana State University."

The newspaper adds, "His creativity was expressed through art and music. He drew comic strips and illustrated children’s books. He created artistic renditions of the Great Warbirds of World War II. Smith never publicly exhibited his works and he died in 2009. His wife, Kathleen, has preserved his paintings. Besides warbirds, Smith used music, people and buildings as subject matter in his paintings." (at left: European Theatre WWII)